Purdue screens TA's for skills

By Rachael Conley
Assistant Campus Editor

Complaints of an inability to understand many international teaching assistants can be heard by virtually any student on campus on virtually any given day.

"I've heard that complaint from every student here," said Kari Miller, a junior in the School of Liberal Arts. "(The system) definitely needs to be changed."

The system Miller is speaking of is that of the English proficiency testing which international teaching assistants have to take when they first reach Purdue's campus.

April Ginther, the director of testing for the oral English proficiency test, said Purdue has done this type of testing since the University was first started.

"All incoming (international teaching assistants) are screened," she said. "If they get a five or a six on the test they get out and they're certified to teach in the classroom."

If those tested get a three or a four, they must enroll in classes where they work on their proficiency in English, Ginther said.

The department for which Ginther works screens most departments, excluding math and statistics for which there are separate screening processes.

"All departments, according to university standards and regulations, have to screen foreign graduate students for proficiency before they get into the classroom," said Ginther.

Despite the testing measures the individuals go through, Miller said she has had problems in her classes in which she has been taught by international teaching assistants, especially in her MA 153, "Algebra and Trigonometry I" class.

"Really all they know how to do is say a problem; they can't say it in other words or re-emphasize what they are trying to say," she said. "Students just stop asking questions."

Ginther contributes the students' problems to sources unrelated to the language barriers of the teaching assistants.

"I think the students complain all the time about all sorts of things; there's lots going on," she said. "This is a complex problem, it doesn't have to do with just proficiency. You can have a native (teaching assistant) and still be doing badly in the class."

Ginther said one thing undergraduates need to understand is these instructors are the best and brightest in their areas.

"These are cream of the crop; they are competing with people from all around the world to get here," she said. "One thing is, we're in a consumer society, so people think, 'Hey I'm paying for this, it should be easy for me.'"

Ginther said though she has heard complaints from around campus, she doubts the problem is fully with proficiency.

"People always complain about it, but I'm not convinced," she said.

Ginther said most students don't put in the effort to go and talk to their instructors.

"You're under a lot of pressure," she said. "It's hard for a whole bunch of reasons, and it's a complex problem."

Purdue screens TA's for skills

Vet school keeps students busy

Residence hall experiences application increase

PSG faces challenge of inexperienced members

Officer pleads guilty, takes time off work

CAMPUS DESK PHONE:
(765) 743-1111 ext. 253

Campus editor: Kelsey VanArsdall

Assistant Campus editors: Rachael Conley, Matt Lindner

To send a letter to the editor, please email opinions@purdueexponent.org